Shloka 15

आदित्यकर्म, त्रयीमयी वैष्णवी शक्तिः, सवितुरन्तर्यामी

The Sun’s Function and Vishnu’s Vedic Śakti within Savitṛ

Devanagari script

तया चाधिष्ठितः सो ऽपि जाज्वलीति स्वरश्मिभिः तमः समस्तजगतां नाशं नयति चाखिलम्

Transliteration

tayā cādhiṣṭhitaḥ so 'pi jājvalīti svaraśmibhiḥ tamaḥ samastajagatāṃ nāśaṃ nayati cākhilam

Translation

Upheld and empowered by Her, he too blazes with his own rays, and he utterly drives away the darkness that shrouds all worlds, bringing it to complete destruction.

Word by Word

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन; करण/सहकारक (by her)

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अधिष्ठितः: presided over / governed
• अधिष्ठितः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधि-स्था (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; अधि-स्था धातोः क्तः; ‘presided over/controlled’

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अप्यर्थे (also/even)

• जाज्वलीति: blazes, shines forth
• जाज्वलीति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; देशी/वैदिक-प्रयोगे दीर्घाभ्यासयुक्तं रूपम् (intensive-like reduplication): जाज्वलि-ति

• स्व-रश्मिभिः: with his own rays
• स्व-रश्मिभिः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रश्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; स्वस्य रश्मयः इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• तमः: darkness
• तमः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तमस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन

• समस्त-जगताम्: of all the worlds/beings
• समस्त-जगताम्: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: समस्त (प्रातिपदिक) + जगत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), बहुवचन; समस्तजगताम् = समस्तं जगत् (all the worlds/beings) इति कर्मधारयः; षष्ठी-बहुवचन (of all beings/worlds)

• नाशम्: destruction
• नाशम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; तमसः नाशम् (object)

• नयति: leads to / brings about
• नयति: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु)
• Form: लट् (Present/वर्तमान), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (Conjunction/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अखिलम्: entire, complete
• अखिलम्: Visheshana (Adjective/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अखिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; नाशं नयति इत्यस्य कर्मविशेषणम् (entirely/whole)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (speaking to Maitreya)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas (worlds)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When upheld by Vaiṣṇavī śakti, the radiant power destroys the darkness that veils all worlds—an image of divine governance overcoming tamas.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Reduce tamas through disciplined routine, sattvic diet, study, and remembrance of Viṣṇu—treating ‘light’ as clarity in conduct and understanding.

Vishishtadvaita: Divine śakti empowers cosmic function while remaining inseparable from the Lord, reflecting the inseparability (apr̥thak-siddhi) of Brahman and His auspicious powers.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana (cosmic)

Bhakti Type: Shanta (peaceful)

Lakshmi Presence: Sri (fortune)

Antaryamin: Yes

Jagat Karana: Yes

Characters & Entities

• Surya (the Sun)
• Shri/Lakshmi (implied as 'Her')
• Vishnu (as the ultimate sovereign principle behind cosmic order)

FAQs

What is the significance of the Sun dispelling darkness in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse frames Surya as an instrument of cosmic order: his light is not merely physical but a sign of dharmic regulation that removes tamas from the worlds.

How does Sage Parāśara explain divine empowerment in this context?

Parāśara indicates that the Sun’s blazing power is 'adhiṣṭhita'—upheld and governed by a higher divine agency ('Her'), implying that cosmic functions operate under supreme supervision rather than independently.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu here?

Even when speaking of Surya, the Purana points to a supreme ground of sovereignty—ultimately Vishnu—through whom cosmic powers act, aligning natural order with Vaishnava metaphysics.